Exploring the influence of religious orientation and learned helplessness on pain intensity in patients with chronic pain

BACKGROUND: Chronic pain (CP) represents a complex and pervasive health issue, affecting individuals across diverse demographic and socioeconomic backgrounds. The main purpose of the study is to investigate how religious orientation (RO) and learned helplessness (LH) affect the intensity of pain experienced by individuals with CP. METHODS: This study adopted a descriptive and correlational research design. The population under investigation comprised patients with CP referred to pain and physiotherapy centers in Tehran Province, Iran, from 2022 to 2023. A sample of 336 individuals were selected through available sampling methods. Data collection involved the administration of three instruments: the Religious Orientation Scale (ROS), Learned Helplessness Questionnaire (LHQ), and Graded Chronic Pain Scale (GCPS). The obtained data were analyzed by Pearson correlation and regression via SPSS software. RESULTS: The findings indicated significant correlations between pain intensity (PI) and external RO (ERO) (r = 0.653, P < 0.001) as well as LH (r = 0.796, P < 0.001), with both showing positive associations. Conversely, the correlation between PI and internal RO (IRO) was negative and significant (r = -0.789, P < 0.001). Furthermore, the results of multiple regression analysis demonstrated that RO and LH collectively predicted 69% of the variance in PI. CONCLUSION: This study contributes to our understanding of the multifaceted nature of CP and highlights the potential significance of addressing psychosocial factors, including RO and LH, in comprehensive pain management strategies. By incorporating these insights into clinical practice, healthcare professionals may better tailor interventions to meet the holistic needs of individuals living with CP.